Shot size - basic question

[john pulis]

Gun fit, gun fit, gun fit.

[Clark McCombe]

Looking forward to a warmer day where we can work on that!

[Stan Hillis]

I've killed lots of small game birds with a .410; doves, quail, etc. I favor size 8 or 8 1/2 for the little bores. The energy will be fine with those sizes at maximum .410 hunting ranges. You don't need to be shooting at any game bird with a .410 much past 30 yds. anyway, because density gets so sparse that you may not get a sufficient number of hits on the bird to kill it cleanly. My favorite load in my .410s for hunting doves and quail is 3/4 oz. of true nickel plated 8s or 8.5s.

In larger gauges I often go to 7 1/2s on later season, tougher birds.

[Clark McCombe]

Thanks Stan,
I’ve wondered why .410 isn’t more popular.

[mobirdhunter]

Clark, Stan is a .410 wizard on his beloved dove, so heed his advice. As he mentioned, I also see the need to increase shot size on our wild Bobwhites later in the season as they tend to flush further and seem to carry more shot. We start the season with 8s in the right barrel and 7.5s in the left and move to 7.5/7 later in the season. This is for 20 and 28 gauge (I’m not a good enough shot to not wound too many birds with a .410). For pheasants I like 6s and tighter chokes and a 12 gauge— they are tough and will “carry lots of shot” as the guys out here like to say. All of this is what I use in my vintage guns, so 3/4 oz. in 28 gauge, 7/8 oz in 20/16, and 1 - 1 1/8 oz in 12.

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Clark McCombe

Thanks Stan,
I’ve wondered why .410 isn’t more popular.

They require me to shoot with a different technique than a bigger, heavier gun, Clark. Most .410 doubles are so light that I just cannot use my normal mounting and shooting technique, at least not on doves. Quail is about the same for me with any gun.

I began my dove shooting "career" 65 years go with a J C Higgins .410, Tenite stocked, double. At 8 years of age. About 10-12 years go I revisited the .410 double scene and started opening the season with them every year. It has been hugely fun but required me to relearn how to mount and establish lead on a dove with the little guns.

Here's three of my favorites, all 30" barreled. From left to right, FAIR Verona O/U ...... Dickinson Estate ...... FAIR Iside Tartaruga Gold.

[mobirdhunter]

Like I said, Clark, Stan is the .410 Wizard in my book and caused me to acquire two—a Parker VH and a 1880s H&H hammer gun. I’ve killed dove with the Holland, but the Parker is my dedicated squirrel gun.

A 30” .410 is very tempting.

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

They require me to shoot with a different technique than a bigger, heavier gun, Clark. Most .410 doubles are so light that I just cannot use my normal mounting and shooting technique, at least not on doves. Quail is about the same for me with any gun.

I began my dove shooting "career" 65 years go with a J C Higgins .410, Tenite stocked, double. At 8 years of age. About 10-12 years go I revisited the .410 double scene and started opening the season with them every year. It has been hugely fun but required me to relearn how to mount and establish lead on a dove with the little guns.

Here's three of my favorites, all 30" barreled. From left to right, FAIR Verona O/U ...... Dickinson Estate ...... FAIR Iside Tartaruga Gold.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I’ll primarily use 7 1/2 or 8 on the Clays course. A target showing edge or over 40 yards gets a dose of 7 1/2. The edge/shoulder is the toughest part of the clay. Inside 40 yards and showing belly/dome gets #8. Easiest part of the bird to break. As for .410, I do prefer using 8 1/2 in the .410. I also prefer using 8 1/2 in the 28g. I find 8 1/2 gives a nice balance between the volume of #9 and the higher energy of #8. .410 and 28 targets are normally closer than bigger bore targets. For hunting I’ll use 7 1/2, 6 or 5 in the little guns depending on what bird I’m chasing.

[Clark McCombe]

Absolutely Beautiful Garry,
I began with a .410 single shot Stevens - firing pin broke and I wound up with a little powder in my eye

[Mike of the Mountain]

Clark, we like the .410 for turkey. Nothing like calling in a big Tom and loading him up with #8 TSS. Makes them dead in a hurry. My grandson was 8 last May and stoned a bearded hen dead at 12 yards with a single shot .410.